Paradise in Cambodia

After the craziness of Vietnam we were ready for some rest and relaxation so we headed down to Cambodia's coastline and set up in a hut on Otres Beach.

The clear blue water was always sparkling and refreshing, the drinks were cold, the food was delicious, and the distractions were few. Never did we have anyone hassle us. The salesmen and women were friendly and not pushy. (This was most welcome after the hard-sell tactics put in place by most salesmen in Vietnam.)

We spent our mornings waking up to the sound of the waves splashing and roosters crowing, our afternoons laying around reading, playing games, and swimming, and our nights watching the sunset over the water and relaxing with a cold beverage.

It was paradise.

Flying Through Vietnam

Laos is laid back and quiet and as we crossed the boarder into Vietnam, I noticed a shift in the pace of life. When you walk onto the street in Vietnam, you will be thrust into a vortex of people, motorbikes, and smells. The rush is endless and loud, always horns are beeping and people are everywhere. Everyone is a part of this constant flow and rush. Even the language sounds harsh and hurried.

We adapted quickly to the hectic ways of Vietnam and it felt like we flew through the country! Vietnam is very beautiful and we enjoyed it a lot. Maybe that's why it felt like we had only just arrived when we left. All in all, we spent about two weeks skipping around the country and enjoying the views.

wet winter day in Hanoi

We started in Hanoi, coming in at nearly midnight on a 30 hour bus from Luang Prabang, Laos. The weather in Hanoi in January is not ideal. It was cold, dreary, and wet. We only stayed one day and visiting the Women's Museum and wandering through some small streets.

Next we went to Halong Bay. We did as most people do and booked a tour in Hanoi which bused us to and from the bay and provided food and accommodation for two days/one night. Halong Bay is mystical and stunningly gorgeous. I'm so glad we went, even though we were freezing most of the time. We did not really prepare for it to be so cold, clothes-wise. It was still worth it, though! :)

After Halong Bay, we took the tour bus back into Hanoi and walked straight to the train station to take an overnight train to Danang. Immediately after arriving in Danang, we went to Hoi An where we soaked up the sunshine and walked around the completely charming old city center, which is a UNESCO world heritage site. It's a picturesque town with something for every kind of traveler. I love the photos we took there.

We went to see the My Son ruins (pronounced "me so-un" not like my child who's a boy, "my son"). They are hundreds of years old and in the middle of the jungle. It was very cool and very packed with tourists.

From Hoi An, we went back to Danang to catch another overnight train to Nha Trang where we immediately walked to the bus station and got on a mini-bus to Dalat. Dalat is a small mountain town with a lake. We rented a swan paddle boat one morning and had a great time on the water, paddling around. It was so fun!! Then we found a great cafe and spent the afternoon drinking delicious coffees and enjoying the free wifi and darling atmosphere. If I lived in Dalat, I would be a regular at Windmills Coffee!

Lastly, we headed to Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon. The motorbikes in this city are unreal. Any traffic light or traffic circle is an amazing sight. We didn't do much in the city, other than walk around and look at things. The one thing we really wanted to do was see the Mekong Delta.

Vietnam had been quite a trip! I'm so glad we chose to go and explore. Here's my favorite picture from the Mekong Delta and quite possibly the best picture I've ever taken in my life.

"The Best Waterfall I've Ever Been to in my Life"

The title of this post was written to me by my first ever travel partner and BFF, Amanda. I knew after I read it that we had to go to Kwangsi Waterfall in Luang Prabang. She wasn't one to recommend anything lame, even in the vaguest of ways so I knew this would be legit.

We rented a motorbike and rode out to the falls. After our first motorbike rental in Laos, which was a piece of sh*# and the roads were worse, I was a little nervous. What we ended up with was one of the best days of our whole trip.

The motorbike was immaculate and brand new and the road the probably the best maintained road in all of Laos. I think we saw maybe one pothole (this is a big deal, I swear!). Here's some of the gorgeous scenery we passes on the way. It was about 27km from the city to the falls, all of it stunning.

Once we got there, we were surprised with bears! Yes, BEARS! There is a bear sanctuary in the waterfall park and it's quite fun to watch them lumber around and relax in their enclosure. You can also watch them being fed around 12:30pm.

Then there's the actual falls, which only get better and better as you hike up to the grand finale. No more words, just enjoy the photos! :)